In a statement, the author mentioned that this book, originally published in 1988, captures the rural setting of an adolescent and has seen over 40 editions.
“In ‘Bai Pedro Bai’, we meet Pedro, a boy observing the daily life of his village and school with a curious eye and a restless soul as he begins to discover the world. He is not a wealthy boy, but he enjoys the simple things in life,” the author stated.
Awarded the Gulbenkian Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, the book’s synopsis reads: “Pedro Alecrim splits his days between school, playing with friends, and working in the fields to help his family. Pedro enjoys school, though he questions the usefulness of some subjects and doesn’t always appreciate the temperament of some teachers. The days pass with dreams, joys, and sorrows. The death of his father changes everything.”
António Mota noted that the book drew the attention of translators into Mirandese after a presentation in Miranda do Douro in 2023.
According to publisher Asa, in a statement, in the Mirandese version of ‘Pedro Alecrim’, “the story gains a new sound, preserving all the sensitivity and humor of the original while valuing and celebrating Portugal’s linguistic and cultural heritage.”
Carlos Ferreira, one of the translators of the Mirandese version along with Alice Almendra Ferreira, stated that ‘Pedro Alecrim’ is a literary work that adapts well to the Land of Miranda, in the Bragança district.
“The book’s character is a child in the sixth grade who goes to and from school and helps his parents with farming. This book becomes biographical, as it mirrors my own path,” Carlos Ferreira remarked.
Regarding the translation into Mirandese, Ferreira indicated it is done very directly since it is rich in vocabulary related to farming, an area where Mirandese is highly specialized.
“I think this book will be very important because the teaching of Mirandese in schools lacks this kind of literary works for support, written in Portugal’s second official language. Thus, this book will be a reinforcement for teaching Mirandese in schools,” emphasized Carlos Ferreira.
Ferreira noted there is very little literature for the youth demographic in Mirandese. “There are many works translated into Mirandese on various themes, but very few for young people,” he observed.
‘Bai Pedro Bai’ will be presented on September 17, the day of the mother tongue.
Mirandese became the second official language in Portugal 27 years ago, following the approval by the Parliament on September 17, 1998, of the law recognizing this status for the language spoken in the municipality of Miranda do Douro and parts of the municipalities of Vimioso and Mogadouro, in the Bragança district.
The most recent study conducted by the University of Vigo, with the support and collaboration of the Association of Mirandese Language and Culture, concluded that there are about 3,000 Mirandese speakers in the Land of Miranda and that if nothing is done, the language is heading towards its decline.
Mirandese is taught in schools in Miranda do Douro as an optional discipline.
